First Class Requirement #6 - Native Plants

[SuperDuperMom]

How does a scout go about meeting the First Class Requirement #6? Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community.

I take this to mean that a scout can explore his community (neighborhood) and pick up ANY leaves and/or plants and identify them using various resources (e.g. planting guides, internet, nursery, field guides). Identify them by name and maybe some interesting charactestics and preserve the leave/plant. Show them to his adult patrol leader and get signed off. This was the interpretation that I came up with when I read that section in the scout handbook regarding collecting and preserving plant evidence.

My son’s adult patrol leader said that each of the 10 plants had to be "native" to California (e.g. poison ivy, sumac? etc) and he would only accept plants native to California.

I wanted to get some ("expert") advice and feedback before exploring this topic with the patrol leader. I realize that my interpretation may be incorrect.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[616kayak]

The requirment states native. Even if that werent the requirment the native plants would be the best for a scout to learn so he knows what they are while camping.

[SuperDuperMom]

What are native plants to California? Ideas?

[wagionvigil]

Just googled "Native Plants of california" and got a whole lot of information
Also remember a tree is NOT a plant

[Mrw]

I always thought a tree was just a very big plant?

Just asking as I send the kids to other people for their sign-offs most of the time. I sign for the bagde requirements for Star and Life though.

[bluenote]

I agree with the interpretation of having the plants be native to your general geographical area/state. Our council's main summer camp has a first year camper program and the boys were able to do this requirement during those classes. If you could get several boys who are working on First Class together, or maybe your son's patrol and go to a park or nature area with some identification books and/or a plant expert, it wouldn't take long to finish this one up.

[JazerNorth]

Also remember a tree is NOT a plant

A tree IS a plant. Here are some sources:

http://forestry.about.com/cs/treeid/a/tree_id_web.htm
What is a tree?

A tree is a woody plant with a single erect perennial trunk at least 3 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH). Most trees have definitely formed crowns of foliage and attains heights in excess of 13 feet. In contrast, a shrub is a small, low growing woody plant with multiple stems. A vine is a woody plant that depends on an erect substrate to grow on.

Just knowing a plant is a tree, as opposed to a vine or a shrub, is the first step in it's identification.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/glossary.html

Tree: A woody perennial plant having a single, usually elongated main stem or trunk with few or no branches on its lower part.

And Others
http://www.oplin.org/tree/
http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/forests/what_is_a_tree.cfm

[deweylure]

I consider native plants to be any growing in the wild not specifically cultivated by man. I even consider some weeds to be native the dandelion.

Another item to remeber some plants are considered on an endangered lists check with the local DNR. It is prohiobited from picking and possessing the plant . A picture of it is acceptable.

Considering plant evol;ution takes a long time I would not be to concerned if its native or not ,as long as the scout can identify them using a field guide or other sources. No I am not changing the re3quirement. I think this requirement is being interpreted to literally.

Dewey

[STEVE BROOKS]

Since it has been established that a tree is a plant, may I suggest an excellent site for Texas tree identification:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/orna ... uhort.html

When I guide scouts and Webelos on this requirement, I also include the different varieties of lawn turf.

[SuperDuperMom]

My scout son and I researched the "native plants" issue. Found two local places (an Arboretum and a Botanic Garden) to visit that only have California Native Plants. Visited both and one was having a California Native Plant sale. Found out the definition of California Native plants and was able to get samples (evidence) of 10 Native (Southern) California plants.

My scout son feels really good about doing the extra effort (compared to his first attempt) and is much more confident that he has fulfilled the requirement completely.

We were interested if poison oak, ivy and sumac are native to California. We told that only poison oak is native to California.

Thanks for everyone's post.

[deweylure]

Good going to your son for the extra effort .



dewey

[Lynda J]

Having lived in almost every part of the US. I think that posion ivy, oak, and sumac arenative to everywhere

[Mrw]

Having lived in Northeast Ohio all my life I definitely know poison ivy, but have never seen the other two and probably wouldn't recognize them in a pinch.

[joat]

In our troop we like to point out native plants during a day hike, campout, or any outdoor activity. 616kayak has the right idea; the point of the "native" requirement is so the boy learns about the kinds of plants he will encounter when he is out and about.

[Mrw]

I remember when my older son was working on this and wanted to include my tomato plant and the petunias in the flower garden.

I told him to work a little harder and find something that I didn't put in place. Our yard is half wooded, so there is plenty of other stuff to choose from.

[John F.]

Here is a good site of posion ivy with lots of pictures.



http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/upload.html

[WeeWillie]

Lynda J

You would find much poison oak or sumac in Arizona